"Who do you mane, Johnny?" asked a boy at his side.
"A boy has run off with my carpetbag," said Robert.
"Do you know where I can find him?" asked Robert, eagerly. "If you'll help me get back my bag, I'll give you a dollar."
"I'll do it then. Come along of me. Here's a chance to cross."
Following his new guide, Robert dashed across the street at some risk, and found himself safe on the other side.
"Now where do you think he's gone?" demanded Robert.
"He's got a mother, but the ould woman's drunk most all the time."
"Then she won't care about his stealing?"
The boy was right. Jim steered for home, not being able to open the bag in the street without suspicion. His intention was to appropriate a part of the clothing to his own use, and dispose of the rest to a pawnbroker or second-hand dealer, who, as long as he got a good bargain, would not be too particular about inquiring into the customer's right to the property. He did not, however, wholly escape suspicion. He was stopped by a policeman, who demanded, "Whose bag is that, Johnny?"
"It belongs to a gentleman that wants it carried to the St. Nicholas," answered Jim, promptly.
"He's took a car to Wall street on business."
"How came he to trust you with the bag? Wasn't he afraid you'd steal it?"
"Oh, he knows me. I've smashed baggage for him more'n once."
This might be true. At any rate, it was plausible, and the policeman, having no ground of detention, suffered him to go on.
Congratulating himself on getting off so well, Jim sped on his way, and arrived in quick time at the miserable room in Mulberry street, which he called home.
His mother lay on a wretched bed in the corner, half stupefied with drink. She lifted up her head as her son entered.
"A boy gave it to me to carry to a chape hotel, so I brought it home. This is a chape hotel, isn't it?"
"You're a smart boy, an' I always said it, Jimmy. Let me open it," and the old woman, with considerable alacrity, rose to her feet and came to Jim's side.
"I'll open it myself, mother, that is, I if I had a kay. Haven't you got one?"
"I have that same. I picked up a bunch of kays in the strate last week."
She fumbled in her pocket, and drew out half a dozen keys of different sizes, attached to a steel ring.